My story Like Bears appears in the latest issue of Island magazine.
Like Bears is a bit of a departure for me. There’s no speculative elements in it at all. But it was a lot of fun to write. It felt like I was stretching muscles I hadn’t used before, but will again.
Island is a beautiful magazine, only available in print for the best of reasons. Like Bears is paired with an image by Steve Lovegrove which really captures the essence of the story.
Subscriptions or individual copies of Island are available here.
You can find more of Steve’s work at Lovegrove Photography
My story “Monster” is now available in ASIM #63. It’s a dark fantasy story, in a world I’d like to visit again. Hope you like it.
Au Contraire is this weekend. Unfortunately I’m not going to be there, but it’s going to be a great time. And the con means it’s SJV time again. I’m thrilled that The Last is nominated in the novella category this year. Shortcuts: Track 1 in its entirety is nominated for Best Collected Work. It’s always a honor to be nominated and there’s a particularly good crop of stories this year. I’m proud to be in such good company.
Everything is Fine is still available in ebook or print. If you’ve read it, feel free to leave a review at the usual places.
It’s no secret that I’m a big Shakespeare fan. When I lived in London, The Globe was one of my favorite places to be. So when I heard about the Pop-Up Globe, there was no question I’d be seeing a play or two.
Then the call went out for volunteers. There was no choice.
Anthony and Cleopatra
The Globe opened in February and for the next twelve weeks I spent as much time as I could there. I scanned tickets and greeted guests as they arrived. I directed people to their seats and told them where the bar was. I roasted in the heat. I got drenched when it rained. I smiled and sold programmes and collected empty wine glasses and litter at the end of every show. I stood until my feet ached and then I stood some more. I got really good at standing.
The Tempest
At least once a week I’d work a full day then head up to the Globe for the evening. Some days I wouldn’t get home until after midnight. Then I’d get up in the morning and do it again.
Titus
The Pop-Up Globe was an audacious, ridiculous idea. Every time I arrived I couldn’t quite believe the place existed. People came back again and again. People who had never seen Shakespeare before had the best possible introduction. Over twelve weeks ninety thousand people came through the doors.
Groundlings don’t let a little rain stop the fun.
I was continually asked what would be playing next year (nothing – it’ll be gone). I was asked where the Globe was going next (no idea. But it’s gotta go somewhere, right?)
Twelfth Night
They’re pulling The Globe down now. It’s all being documented on Instagram, if you can stand to watch. I can’t.
The view from the Upper Gallery
Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.“Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things”
There was a bunch of stuff I’d planned on doing over the summer that I didn’t get to. The garden’s a disaster. The hallway remains unpainted. The novel didn’t get revised. But to get the chance to play a tiny part in this beautiful idea?
Shortcuts Track 1 : Strange tales of Aotearoa New Zealand
Available in November, all Shortcuts Track 1 novellas, collected and in print for the first time.
Lee Murray and Piper Mejia : Mika
A.C. Buchanan : Bree’s Dinosaur
Grant Stone : The Last
I.K. Paterson-Harkness : Pocket Wife
Tim Jones : Landfall
Octavia Cade : The Ghost of Matter
If you’re even vaguely involved in the Old-School Roleplaying scene, you’ll be aware of Petty Gods (Revised and Expanded Edition), an attempt to create something like the old Deities & Demigods, or the Judges Guild Unknown Gods from back in the day. And now, finally, it’s here!
It’s more than here, actually. It’s HERE. This thing is a monster. Three hundred. And Ninety-Four. Pages. So big that when you put it on your shelf, all your other gaming books will likely worship it. And well they should.
M.A.R. Barker is in here! James Ward is in here! Erol Otus is in here! Some of you will be freaking out right about now. These are the real old school. These are the originators. Thing is, they’re just some of the hundreds of contributors. Hundreds. Literally hundreds. The illustrations are amazing (quite a few from my friend Darcy Perry). And it’s funny! It’s a whole bunch of everything.
I’m in there too. In the introduction I attempt to define what, really, a god is. I don’t know if I succeed, but at least I got out of it with my skin intact, which is more than I can say for the poor faculty and students of the university of Crabt (Go Star Hat U!). Later on I write about The Lady of Rains, one of the aspects of The Jale God.
I don’t get to play nearly as much as I’d like to these days, but role-playing is in my blood. I’m immensely proud to be a part of such an epic project.
And you can get it free, right now, at RPG Now. And you should. But you can’t stop there. Something this epic can’t be restricted to computer bits. Lulu has a softcover version here. But for the real old-school feel, you have to go for the hardcover here. Seriously. This baby’s even got an orange spine. You know you want it.
Enjoy! And if you end up using The Lady of Rains in a game, let me know.
This strapping young fellow is the captain of the Star Hat University first fifteen. Which might explain why they haven’t won a game for twenty years.
Footnote: I just realised. I’m sitting here wearing a Star Wars T-shirt surrounded by tiny computers. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D is on TV and I’m writing about being in a game supplement with an orange spine. Hey, thirteen-year-old me – everything you dreamed of has come true.
My story Like Bears appears in the latest issue of Island magazine.
